[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 12, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            NO TIME TO WASTE

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, while Democrats and the President have 
developed sweeping plans to strengthen our education system and provide 
health care for the 10 million children in this country who currently 
have no coverage, the Republicans have offered no specifics in return. 
Instead of immediately turning Congress' focus to programs that make a 
real difference in people's lives, like tax breaks to help pay for 
college, the repair of decaying elementary schools and insurance for 
uninsured infants, today instead the GOP has scheduled a vote on term 
limits.
  If history is any indication, Mr. Speaker, time will show the GOP's 
interest in term limits today is nothing more than a delay tactic. Term 
limits will do nothing for schools badly in need of repair. Term limits 
will not teach a child to read or ensure our children receive medical 
attention when they fall sick.
  I think we have a lot more important things to consider and we do not 
have time to waste. The sooner the Republican leadership learns this, 
the sooner we can provide quality education and health care to our 
children instead of spending the time today on term limits.

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